Madeline is 11 years old and sight impaired. She in in agility and just started the last few months. I have to help her at times and we will never win a speed record, but she loves it. I don’t mind slowing down for her.

I was looking out my front kitchen window with tear filled eyes when I saw the small dog standing on my front lawn. Had it been any other
day I would have run out, caught him and tried to find his owner, but not today. I had just hung up from Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, informing me my mother had just suffered a massive stroke and would not live more than a few hours.

The decision to bring a dog into my home came not of my own volition, but at the request of my then 8 year old son. Four years earlier my son had been badly bitten by a dog owned by a friend of a friend, sort of confirming my belief then that cats were easier to deal with when you have small children.

While Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants is in the running to earn the title of the National League’s Most Valuable Player, Buster Pawsey of Pacific Grove has definitely earned the title of MVP — Most Valuable Pooch!

For 9 years, Jake, a rambunctious tri-color sheltie was a faithful Saturday morning visitor to the Comminty Hospital’s house (hospice).

Medea was born at a puppy mill and kept as a breeding bitch, along with 63 other American Eskimo Dogs, aka Eskies. Their health, teeth and parasites were ignored and they were regularly kicked and beaten.

Missy was surrendered in Bakersfield in February 2012. From what I have pieced together, Missy was surrendered by the daughter of her owner. The man was going into a nursing home and could no longer take care of himself, let alone his dogs. Missy was in serious need of medical care. She was approximately 11 years old, 8 pounds, and had an inguinal hernia larger than a softball attached to her belly.

My dog is my hero because he intuitively senses a broken heart, a troubled mind, a weary soul, or a hurting body. He will be a great therapy dog someday.

Milli is a hero because she donates blood to help save the lives of her fellow canines!

I adopted Kobe from a local animal shelter when he was just 4 months old. Not many people wanted a Pit Bull Mix, but by sons talked me into it. The days following his adoption were so trying that I swore he was going back to the shelter! That was almost 10 years ago.

Does your dog whimper and cry when you leave her? Does she chew up your favorite pair of shoes when you’re at work? Or has she scratched patches of fur off her body? She is probably suffering from separation anxiety. Separation anxiety? Really? Yes, really.

A dog uses his nose to interpret his world the way we humans use our eyes. He can gain all the information he needs about his environment utilizing his amazing sense of smell.

Peace of Mind Dog Rescue is dedicated to finding new loving homes for dogs whose guardians can no longer care for them due to illness, death, or other challenging circumstances, and to finding homes for senior dogs in animal shelters.

Ticks are in season right now so be sure to take appropriate precautions to prevent and deal with ticks.

Winter’s owners Clayton and Kimberly Downer share the challenges, rewards, myths, and truths about owning and training a dog with disabilities.